Building a Brewery on Passion with Ross Gandon of Swallow Brew Co - The Beer Rep Chats With | Lyssna här

In this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With, I’m joined by Ross Gandon, founder of Swallow Brew Co, a new independent brewery based on the outskirts of Folkestone, Kent.

Ross shares his journey through the highs and lows of the beer industry, from previous ventures like Angels & Demons and McCann’s Brewery, to starting fresh with a smaller, more creative setup focused on quality, experimentation, and most importantly… having fun.

We dive into:

Why scaling down can sometimes be the smartest move in brewing
The realities of running a modern independent brewery
Why Swallow Brew Co has chosen a Pilsner and Stout as core beers (no IPA!)
The importance of taprooms for survival
The challenges of access to market and pub company control
Trends like low & no alcohol beer, and whether they’ll last
The power of branding, word of mouth, and first impressions
What needs to change in the UK beer industry

Ross also talks about building a brewery around creativity, from split-batching beers to constantly rotating styles, and why keeping things simple might be the key to long-term success.

If you’re into craft beer, independent breweries, UK beer industry insights, or thinking about starting a brewery yourself then this episode is packed with honest, no-nonsense insight.

🍺 Check out Swallow Brew Co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swallowbrewco/

The Blind Pig: https://www.instagram.com/theblindpig.folkestone/

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations with brewers, industry experts, and beer insiders.

Pod website: https://www.beerrepchats.com/

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - 02:13 Intro & Meet Ross Gandon

02:14 - 05:55 Ross’ Brewing Background & Previous Ventures

05:56 - 09:05 Core Beers: Why Pilsner & Stout

09:06 - 11:30 Launching in a Tough Beer Market

11:31 - 13:35 Early Days & Homebrewing Background

13:36 - 19:50 The Realities of Running a Brewery